Maine Weddings

This, my friends, is my dream wedding.  A modern meets rustic love-fest set against one of the prettiest locales you will ever see (I’m talking to you, Barn on Walnut Hill).  It’s chevron runners meets yummy goodness from Kitchen Chicks meets all sorts of awesome from Emily Carter Floral Designs, and it’s all wrapped up in one seriously amazing party.  See it all captured by Becca Wood right here.

From Becca Wood Photography… Meaghan & Derek met in North Carolina where she was a newscaster for a local network. When they fell in love and Meaghan’s job took her to Maine (she now works as a newscaster for WMTW), Derek followed her up North, despite his love of the south and warmer weather. They have grown to love Portland over the past couple of years and thought Maine would be the perfect place to bring their families together to celebrate their wedding!

From the Bride… Our wedding day was overcast, when the weatherman promised sunshine. It was humid, when it was supposed to be dry. But all the unexpected surprises that day turned in to a perfect evening. Our wedding day was the perfect expression of who we are as a couple: romantic, fun and a little bit old fashioned. Best day ever!

Derek and I have spent the last three years learning about Maine and falling in love with all this state offers. We wanted to make sure our guests, the majority of whom were travelling to be here, understood what a beautiful, peaceful and rustic place it is. The Barn On Walnut Hill just had that vibe. It was elegant but tough, sophisticated and fun all at the same time. We knew it was perfect. The nature sanctuary out back was also such a breathtaking place for us to exchange vows.

Our ceremony included a reading of a letter from my grandparents who have been married for 60 years, had 11 kids, 15 grandkids and six great grandkids. They told us the secret to a lasting marriage is like baking a cake, the ingredients to which were understanding, compromise and patience. Derek and I wrote our own vows. I vowed to love him even when he cheats at Scrabble, he promised to love me when I get all “Type A” like I tend to. Hand-sewn, chevron fabric programs included a note to our guests. Each program was tied with a yellow ribbon like a little gift to our friends and families.

From the ceremony to the cocktails to the reception, each detail was meant to embody Maine’s rustic charm. Old blueberry boxes I found at a Rt. 1 Kennebunk antique store were used to serve champagne, each with fresh blueberries inside. Derek and I decided to have the inside of the barn draped and lit to soften it but still keep its integrity as a rustic, country space.

One of the favorite elements was the tablescape. Our colors: soft gray and white with pops of yellow was supposed to feel both feminine and masculine at the same time. Full white flowers: peonies, David Austen Roses and ranunculus contrasted against the grayish hues of the dusty miller in a clean white centerpiece. Yellow table numbers popped against the arrangements on a custom gray and white chevron runner. Modern, sleek bud vases with a white flower flanked the tables and a single crespedia ball graced each napkin with a menu. It was both modern and rustic; romantic and edgy all at the same time. I love the contradiction of it all – the contrast seemed to work so beautifully.

We did our best to make the day about romance and we wanted our guests to feel it. With twine, we tied tags with our stamped initials around mason jars. Inside the jars, guests could serve our specialty “Something Blue” cocktail made up of blueberry lemonade and vodka.

And speaking of little gifts, the Love Cupcake truck was a huge hit! We opted for cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. Being my favorite treat, we wanted to showcase the cupcakes in a way that highlighted them. The cupcake truck was that perfect fit! It was interactive and charming – with that vintage twist we were going for. Plus, we got a special moment to sneak out of the reception and enjoy the sweets together alone.

Ultimately, the goal of the day was to make each person feel our love for them and of course, have a seriously awesome party! Derek’s best friend Brian got up and played the banjo with the Bob Charest Band. Lobster mac and cheese and sliders kept the crowd going after dinner. Not to mention the Holy Donuts (a Maine specialty) and Maine’s official state treat, whoopie pies. All washed down with milk from a local farm in the classic glass bottles!

Above and beyond all of these details, I look back and remember, just simply, love.

Photography: Becca Wood Photography | Dress: Andrea's Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Kitchen Chicks Catering | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Ceremony & Reception Site: The Barn on Walnut Hill | Cupcake Trailer: Love Cupcakes | Flowers & Design: Emily Carter Floral Designs | Music: Bob Charest Band

Saturdays are made for swooning. With calendars cleared and no work in sight, it’s the very best time to cozy up to a wedding and get to know some our of newest advertisers just a wee bit better. Joining the ranks this week? Aster B. Flowers and Ladylike Love. They’re two of New England’s top notch wedding whizzes and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them to the SMP family!

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First up, the lovelies of Aster B. Flowers! They can whip up wedding bloomage like nobody’s business and we for one, are major fans. Prepare to swoon as you snag a glimpse at their work below.

From Aster B. Flowers… Your wedding day is a fun and exciting time – a time to truly express your personality and style as a couple. The small details you choose can say so much, particularly flowers. Flowers can be playful or polished, wild or composed, colorful or subdued. They can evoke a mood, a feeling, an intention. Aster B. Flowers is a small flower farm on Massachusetts’ North Shore. We grow local, seasonal, organic flowers for weddings and events. We offer full service floral design, as well as cut flowers by the bucket for couples who prefer to create their own arrangements or bouquets.

Aster B. is happy to announce it’s newest offering for summer 2014: flower parties! Gather some friends or family and come spend a few hours on the farm learning the basics of floral design, having fun and creating memories. This is a perfect activity for bridal parties or bachelorettes. Contact us to discuss your vision and budget and we will create a custom package just for you.

Aster B. Flowers is offering every SMP bride that books by March 31, 2014 a complimentary bag of flower petals for their wedding, a $25 value. Just mention “SMP Gift” in your inquiry.

Photography: Melissa Glorieux + Wayne E. Chinnock Photography Co.

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If there’s ever a time to bring a fashion consultant into your life, it’s during the engagement process. From bridal showers, to the bachelorette party, and every event in between, the outfits make all the difference. *Enter* the experts at Ladylike Love who specialize in making sure you look fabulous from “I will” to “I do!”

From Ladylike Love… As an experienced bridal professional, I want to share my passion with brides-to-be looking for a fashion companion for all of the events surrounding her wedding. Ladylike Love offers personalized services to brides and her bridal party including styling, gown selection, day-of dressing and unique accessories. I even have accessories for pets! Visit our website or send us a message to find out more information about how we can work together to find you the perfect wedding day look!

Specializing in wedding day bridal assisting. This includes pick-up and delivery of garments, pressing out any wrinkles, dressing, lacing, zipping, and buttoning. I also oversee the formal photography sessions to ensure perfect results. Ladylike also offers editorial fashion styling, engagement photo assistance and rehearsal dinner fashion selection.

Photography: Briana Moore Photography + Erika Follansbee Photography

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Welcome loves! So thrilled to call you family! xoxo

Adorable is the first word that comes to mind when describing these two Maine sweeties, but honestly? It’s an adjective that doesn’t even do them justice.  Because when you combine the cutest “how we met story” ever with a wedding as amazingly beautiful as this classic meets romantic affair, this sweet twosome is more than adorable… they’re awesome and then some.  Add in a bundle of some of Maine’s finest vendors (think Emily Carter Floral Design, Anticipate Invitations, A Family Affair of Maine and Daisies & Pearls) and you have the perfect start to the weekend.  See every moment captured by Meredith Perdue right here.

From the Bride… You could say Mike came into my life “mother-approved.” My mom worked with him for a few years and often spoke about him, constantly mentioning what a nice guy he was, how funny he was, and even showed me a picture or two to gain my interest. And like all good daughters, I ignored her. Then one day, I met her for lunch and as we were walking down the street, Mike tapped on the window and waved from inside a pizza shop, and she excitedly took me inside to meet him. Less than three years later, Mike took me back to that pizza shop, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I guess mothers really do know best.

Perhaps the easiest part of wedding planning was deciding where it would be. We live outside of Philadelphia, but Mike has close family members that live in Camden, Maine and has spent a lot of time there over the years. When he first brought me to visit, I immediately fell in love with the charming little town and the beauty of the world around it. So once we became engaged, we both knew it would be an amazing spot for our celebration. Since I am from Pennsylvania and he is from New Jersey, the majority of our guests were traveling quite a distance to be with us on our wedding day, so we planned a weekend full of schooner rides, fireworks, and a lobster bake, held down by the beach at his family’s home in Camden.

The details of the wedding were by far my favorite part of planning. We wanted the day to reflect us as a couple, and feature our style, favorite foods and the people we love. We spent time going through thrift shops and flea markets, looking for old books to use for our ceremony décor and vintage Philly cigar boxes to add a touch of “home” to our out-of-town nuptials. Since we were planning a mini-destination wedding in an unfamiliar place, I can honestly say that I relied on SMP to help me pick some fabulous vendors and they did not steer me wrong! In addition, we worked with amazing designers to create whimsical and personalized details to keep the feeling of the day light-hearted and “us.” (Hence the “formal but here to party” wedding cake!)

The day of the wedding was simply picturesque and perfect. The morning clouds and rain transformed into gorgeous sunshine and Mike and I had our “first look” outside on the mountain of Point Lookout, overlooking the Penobscot Bay. After a lovely ceremony, we played lawn games and enjoyed cocktails outside on the grounds of the Summit before heading inside for a delicious family-style meal. Once the reception came to an end, we shuttled guests down the mountain to Point Lookout’s Bowling Alley for our “surprise” after party. It was amazing to watch our friends and family playing, mingling and just genuinely enjoying their time together. We were lucky to have so many loved ones with us and the entire wedding was truly a beautiful day that Mike and I will remember forever.

Photography: Meredith Perdue | Coordination: daisies & pearls | Floral Design: Emily Carter Floral Designs | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Cake: Sweet Sensations | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy Collection By Vivian Diamond | DJ: High Tech Entertainment | Officiant: A Sweet Start | Ceremony Music: Peter Miles | Wedding Venue: Point Lookout | Gelato Bar: Gelato Fiasco | Hand Painted Signs & Menus: Paper Tangent | Paper Goods: Anticipate Invitations | Photo Booth: Viral Booth | Rentals: A Family Affair of Maine

You may want to sit down for this one, lovelies. Because not only do we get to bask in the beauty of this Maine wedding brought to life by Maine Seasons Events and captured by A Brit & A Blonde, but we also get to enjoy every last amazing minute of their fabulously-Maine rehearsal dinner. It was a weekend full of love and pretty details, and we get to reap the rewards right here in the full gallery of images.

Gorgeous, no? Well, here is even more pretty from their rehearsal dinner that just screams Maine…

From A Brit and A Blonde …Jane and Dana were living in London and then Singapore while they planned their big day. Since Jane is originally from Maine – she had her heart set on saying I do back home. They chose the Barn at Flanagan Farm for the rustic, beautiful field setting and the barn (of course!). The vision right from the start was to have dinner in the barn and the ceremony in the woodland area. The stunning forest spot with the tall trees surrounding made for a magical place for the ceremony.

The absolutely incredible design and planning work by Maine Seasons Events was picture perfect. The colors of peach and pale blue became the palette, accented with metallic gold, in the chairs, the flatware, the glassware. Wanting something fun and graphic for the table runners, but also something soft and feminine, table runners were custom made- half in a pale blue chevron pattern and the other half in a soft peach lace. What fun to have a glamorous and twinkling dinner party against the rustic, wooden backdrop of the barn, complete with string lights running across the barn ceiling behind muslin draped fabric by the Event Light Pros.

The floral design by Flora Fauna included a soft and sophisticated mix of roses, dahlia, astilbe, ranunculus, dusty miller, stock, delphinium and thistle, in assorted clear glass bottles and jars, and gold glitter dipped mason jars (we ADORE these!).

There was a champagne bar during cocktail hour with ingredients to make your own champagne cocktail, mini French fries in paper cones, a Cabin Cove oyster truck serving fresh oysters and a 5 course dinner served in the barn including charcuterie plates by Destination Catering. A huge cookie bar at the end of the evening, all made by the bride’s mom and her family sent guests off with a sweet treat. The 155 person group danced into the wee hours to the exuberant music of Retrospecticus and moved out to a bonfire and set off luminary lanterns into the Maine summer night sky.

Photography: A Brit & A Blonde | Event Design and Planning: Maine Seasons Events | Floral Design: Flora Fauna | Wedding dress: Paloma Blanca | Invitations: Parrott Design Studio | Shoes: DYOS | Jewelry: Alexis Bittar | Catering: Destination Catering | Hair & Makeup: Akari | Lighting: Griffin & Griffin | Band: Retrospecticus | Groom's Suit: Tommy Hilfiger | String Quartet: Retrospecticus | Transportation: Bo-Mar Transportation | Oyster Shuck Truck: Cabin Cove Oysters | Reception & Ceremony location: The Barn At Flanagan Farm | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited | Rentals: Marshall Rental

Today we’re taking a quick little jaunt to the lovely little state of Maine, a place where weddings expertly merge preppy and seriously sophisticated in some of the prettiest days you will ever see.  Days like this one styled to perfection by Daisies & Pearls and featuring yummy treats from The Black Tie Co and fab paper goods from Chelsey Emery.  Basically, it’s a non-stop day of pretty and you can see it all captured by Lara Kimmerer right here in the full gallery.

Sarah and Patrick chose Peaks Island as the backdrop for their Maine beach-inspired wedding, because, as Patrick explained, “I could sit in a chair and look at the ocean for hours.” Harborview at Jones Landing offered the best seats in the house for just that. The day was beautifully captured by Lara Kimmerer.

Chelsey Emery designed the wedding stationery suite in a sea glass palette. The motif S + P was a design element applied throughout the day.

Guests arrived on Peaks Island via Casco Bay Ferry and found their way to the fte with the assistance of a S + P floral wreath crafted by Marianmade Farm. Family and friends sipped blueberry lemonade through paper straws in the Maine summer sun, while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Marianmade Farm also designed gorgeous floral arrangements, bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres using shades of yellow, white and pink. Sarah’s bouquet featured daisies and yellow roses which were the same flowers her mother and Patrick’s mother carried on their wedding day. The bouquet was adorned with silver heart lockets with photos of the couples grandparents. The bridal party carried bouquets of daisies and pops of fresh lavender which coordinated beautifully with their mermaid teal dresses. The Bride and Groom’s pup, Izzy, the extra special member of the wedding party, wore a floral collar around her neck. The gentleman sported bright craspedia boutonnires to complement their linen suits and sea glass color ties.

Guests grabbed ceremony programs from a beach wood basket on their way to their seats along the shore of the island. A white arbor adorned with floral design by Marianmade Farm served as the alter with scenic views of the Portland skyline and Casco Bay.

After Sarah and Patrick said “I do,” the celebration was in full swing with a cocktail social by The Black Tie Co. Guests not only enjoyed refreshing cocktails and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres but photo booth fun. A lobster trap held a multi-purpose, as a wedding card holder and display for escort cards. Wine cork buoys directed guests where to sit. Arriving at their table, guests discovered a rustic Maine beach tablescape designed by daisies & pearls. Sarahs mother exercised her amazing sewing skills crafting table runners and numbers from repurposed Coffee by Design burlap coffee sacks. The table numbers were displayed in glass bottles and accompanied by drift wood, beach bottles filled with native Maine flowers and rope knotted votives. The Bride and Groom were seated at their own sweetheart table where the S + P motif was visible. The rustic Maine beach theme carried over to other event elements including the dinner buffet right down to the flatware.

Before sunset Sarah and Patrick snuck away to capture the days last sunlight with Lara, leaving guests salivating over the delectable dessert table created by Nothing Bakes Like a Parrott, which was devoured immediately upon their return. Guests were treated to the sounds of The Tony Boffa Band as they danced the night away before bidding farewell to the Newlyweds with a sparkler send off.

Photography: Lara Kimmerer | Floral Design: Marianmade Farm | Stationery: Chelsey Emery | Catering: The Black Tie Company | Hair + Makeup: Head Games Salon for Hair & Body | Venue: Harborview at Jones Landing | Dessert: Nothing Bakes Like A Parrott | Music: The Tony Boffa Band | Planning + Coordination: daisies & pearls

Hello Color! If you need a little pick me up this morning, you’ve come to the right place. I mean, why have a single pop of color when you can have a rainbow of wonderful? And how perfect is the venue name – the Bold Colorful Life Inn? It all plays out absolutely beautifully in the images from Leah Fisher Photography below. Add some stunning florals from Beautiful Days and my new favorite gown on the internets right now, and this gallery is one happy place to be today. See it all here.

From the Bride…After knowing each other for over 8 years, we wanted to create a simple, beautiful and meaningful celebration, only shared with a small number of our close friends and family. One thing we really wanted was to find a venue that we could house our wedding party and family for not just the day of, but for the entire weekend. We were so pleased when we found The Bold Colorful Life Inn located in Boothbay, Maine. The Inn not only featured a large farmhouse and small guest cottage, but also a small rustic barn, all right on the ocean which also tied in beautifully with our aesthetic.

Color was the largest inspiration for the day. From the decor and attire to the bridesmaid’s dresses and the display of 100’s of repurposed glass pieces on the family style dining tables. We hired local vendors across the board- even beer brewed the morning before right in the next town over.

We skipped having a DJ or reception band and instead had each guest, along with their RSVP, send in a dance request song. The night was filled with hand-picked songs from all of our friends and family.

The glassware is still displayed in our home, as well as many of our guests’ homes as we asked them to take their favorite piece.

Truly a magical weekend that we relive all the time.

Photographer: Leah Fisher Photography | Flowers: Beautiful Days | Dress: Madeleine's Daughter | Hair: Bonnies A Cut Above | Venue: Bold Colorful Life Inn | Cocktail Music: Maine Marimba Ensemble. | Cocktail music: Maine Marimba Ensemble. | Farmers tables: Maine Prop House | GA Downing Co: Portable Restrooms | Jims Suit: Joseph's of Portland | One Stop Party Shoppe: One Stop Event Rentals | Oxbow Brewery: Locally made growlers of beer | Pocket Brunch: Cocktail & Dinner

New England weddings rock.  That’s a tried and true fact.  But when you combine a sweet Cranberry Island setting with some of the most gorgeous details you have ever seen from Natalie Trento Events, it’s a new world of amazing.  One that features beautiful blooms from Sweet Pea Flowers, a crazy awesome tented reception and one lovely image after another from Hailey Tash Photography.  In other words, it’s BEYOND pretty and you can see every last moment right here in the full gallery.

From Hailey Tash Photography… Laura grew up spending her summers on Great Cranberry Island in Maine, so she knew that she would marry Brendan there. It was the perfect Maine wedding with guests arriving by boat, Laura’s pearl necklace, flowing pale green bridesmaid gowns, and a pair of L.L. Bean boots tucked under a lacy white wedding gown on the rocky coast.

Bridesmaid and wedding planner, Natalie Trento, decorated cocktail hour with sea glass and the reception tent with matching bottles in different sea glass hues. There were pops of green and orange in the gorgeous centerpieces, and guests found their table setting with hand-painted rocks, including a special pair decorated with Maine lobster for the bride and groom.

Laura and Brendan set out to give their guests the ultimate Maine experience, and they topped it off with happiness and love.

Photography: Hailey Tash Photography | Event Design + Planning: Natalie Trento Events | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Wedding Cake: Celebration Cakes | Shoes: L.L. Bean | Catering: Bar Harbor Catering Company | Men's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Venue: Great Cranberry Island Congregational Church | Bouquets: Sweet Pea Flowers | Bridesmaids Dress: J.Crew | Centerpieces: Natalie Trento Events | Rentals + Tent: Wallace Tent And Party Rentals

I stop everything I’m doing when I come across a coastal New England wedding like this one from  Meredith Perdue at the Kennebunk River Club Boathouse. Maybe it’s the shingled houses or the nautical flair or the gorgeous shoreline. I’ll never be able to put my finger on exactly why classic soirees such as these make me swoon (because there is just so much to love about them), but I do know that I’ll never stop loving of days like this one.  You can see all the reasons why right here.

From the Bride… Charles and I immediately decided to get married in my hometown. Charles is originally from London, but he loves Kennebunkport. Luckily my family has membership at the Kennebunk River Club and we both agreed that it would be the perfect venue. I am incredibly lucky to have wonderful family members and friends who helped to plan this wedding.

My friend Mike created our Save the Date based on vintage postcards of the River Club. Very close family friends, John and Lisa, let me get ready at their home next to the River Club, then John drove me to the wedding in his 1942 Ford Woody. Our friend Cheryll lent us her sailboat for Charles’s entrance at the ceremony. Pastor Corgan, the father of my childhood best friend, performed the ceremony. My brother surprised us with a fireworks display during the reception. My parents and sister pulled together so many little details that I would have never ever thought of. I loved being able to include so many close friends in the wedding and am grateful for their help.

My mom was thrilled to plan the River Club wedding of our dreams! I seriously think that she should become a wedding planner or consultant because the wedding came together perfectly thanks to her creative ideas and attention to detail. We decided to have the ceremony and reception at the River Club’s Boathouse, so the event has a very Maine nautical feel. We chose ivory and blue as the colors to match our nautical venue. My parents dressed up the space with lighted trees, Chinese lanterns, and vintage trunks with flower arrangement on top. Charles and I wanted to add some elements to personalize the wedding, so I took on some DIY projects. I made signs for the tables named with cities where Charles and I have lived. A map was displayed on the escort card table showing the many places we lived before we met in Chicago. I also did the calligraphy on the invitations and escort cards. My big DIY surprise was that I made Charles’s wedding ring for him with the help of a Chicago jeweler.

Throughout the entire planning process my goal was to have a fun wedding, and it ended up being my favorite party ever. The dance floor was packed all night. It was a black tie wedding but it wasn’t stuffy. My friends were their typical silly selves with their signature dance moves. The band, the Lisa Love Experience really got the party going and even let me and two friends perform a song with them. The day was filled with so many memories that we will cherish forever, and we feel very lucky that our friends and family celebrated with us.

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Wedding Photographry: Meredith Perdue | Wedding Venue: Kennebunk River Club Boathouse | Catering: Kitchen Chicks Catering | Floral Design: Downeast Flowers | Wedding Cake: Wild Orchid Baking Company | Band: Lisa Love Experience | Photobooth: Maine Photobooth Company

In my years pouring over the pretty at SMP, I’ve seen a lot of amazing venues, but this couple’s summer camp wedding at Camp Mataponi just might take the cake for the most adorable. It was a weekend filled of summer fun for all their guests, topped off with the sweetest of ceremonies for the two lovebirds. Lucky for all of us, we get to see all the fun unfold through the pretty-as-can-be-pictures from Emily Delamater Photography, and they are all waiting for you here.

From Emily Delamater Photography… I loved this super sweet Summer camp wedding. The colors were so fresh with grass greens, grey & whites, birch and wildflower details. A perfect day for a wedding on a lake in Maine. Abby & Thomas stayed at Camp Mataponi, as did all their friends and family making for a delightful weekend filled with lobster bakes and campfires, games on the lawn and two lovebirds getting hitched. It was wonderful to be there to capture all the merriment. 

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Wedding Photography: Emily Delamater Photography | Wedding Venue: Camp Mataponi in Naples, Maine | Floral Design: Little River Flower Farm | Catering: Local Sprouts Cooperative | Wedding Cake: Dorene’s Creative Cakes | DJ: Dave Dionne |Rentals: A+ Party Rentals | Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Alterations: Annlum Red | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Macy’s | Hair + Makeup: Bridal Beauties

In continued celebration of SMP’s brand new look, we’ve got a parade of real weddings headed your way. But not just any real weddings. We’re talking about the prettiest of pretty real weddings thanks to wedding world A-listers Aaron Delesie, Lisa Vorce and Mindy Rice. And after a trip to this Portland fete’s full gallery, make sure to pop over to the new SMP Living for a pre-wedding croquet party dreamed up by this talented group that we know you’ll love.

From Lisa Vorce… Jillian is the sister of one of our former clients (Alissa and Ryan – San Ysidro Ranch) so we were delighted to be able to work with the Parker family again! We adore them! What was even more fun is that Jillian and Alissa have such unique personalities and are at such opposite ends of the design spectrum. While Alissa loves a more earthy Bohemian style, Jillian gravitated towards things that were more traditional and formal. Jillian and Pauls’ wedding was such a great combination of rustic elegance and old world formality. Jillian loved the opulent decor in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette so Mindy and I pulled our color inspiration (robin’s egg blue, blush, soft white with accents of gold) from images from the Louis XIV era. The gorgeous Barn at Walnut Hill provided an wonderful back drop for us. Mindy brought in oversized gold candelabras for the table tops and soft hued garden roses and peonies that were paired with gilded fruit. She incorporated fragrant gardenias at each place setting for a special touch! For the favors, Paul’s family provided maple syrup from their Vermont farm that we packaged in vintage bottles. We were also able to incorporate their maple syrup into the vinaigrette for the salad course which was such a unique detail!  

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Wedding Photography: Aaron Delesie | Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Maine | Reception Venue: The Barn on Walnut Hill North Yarmouth, Maine | Wedding Production + Custom Linens: Lisa Vorce, Event Design & Production | Floral + Design: Mindy Rice Floral & Event Design | Wedding Catering: Kitchen Chicks Catering | Wedding Cake: Two Fat Cats Bakery | Stationery: Papel Paper & Press | Calligraphy: Anne Jones | Tenting: Sperry Tents | Lighting: Barker Decor Service | Rentals: Be Our Guest Party Rentals | Cocktail Reception Music: Bloom Arts & Events | Dinner Reception Music: Red Shoe LA | Photo Booth: Maine Photo Booth Co. | Specialty Transportation: Main Limousine Service | Wedding Dress: Carolina Herrera | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale | Hair: Akari | Makeup: Michael Wormwood | Groom’s Tux: Tom Ford

Heidi of White Loft Studio has become a personal fave of ours here at SMP. Not only because of her wildly beautiful work, but because she’s the type of person you meet and instantly want to make your best friend. So when we first got word of a Maine outdoor affair she’d shot this summer, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the goods. And with every sunshiny image telling a story all its own, it goes without saying they did not disappoint. Beautiful Days coordinated the wedding day to perfection and you can see it from beginning to end in the full gallery here.

From Heidi of White Loft Studio…This wedding was hosted at the groom’s family property just outside of Wiscasset, Maine [rolling fields to the water where they hosted their ceremony] which was a very special place to both the bride and groom during their courtship. When I arrived, the groom and groomsmen were all shirtless around a campfire [hence the image of the new vintage anchor tattoo on the groom]….They had a first look, waterfront ceremony, a long cocktail hour with bluegrass music and croquet, which felt more like their reception. The cocktail hour ended with the setting off of a canon at sunset, a maritime tradition. A sit-down dinner in a tent followed.

From the Bride… Cory and I met working at a summer camp in Maine. His parents owned property just a few miles away, and we spent many happy days there when we first started dating. When we got engaged, he was living in California and I was finishing up my degree in New York. We knew immediately that we wanted to get married at his parent’s place in Maine. Maine is where we met, fell in love, and hope to live again one day. It’s just our favorite place in the world. Our wedding was one of the best days of our lives, full of light, laughter, and love. We wanted the day to feel as organic as possible- unfussy, spontaneous, and very us. Some traditions we kept, such as the bride walking down the aisle with her dad, and others we ignored—no seating plan, no planned first dance, no cake cutting since we opted for pie from our friends at TREATS! Our ceremony was short and sweet, with music and readings  from family and friends and beautiful words from our officiant and best friend Liz. Our favorite moments, however, were those they could not have been planned, such as Cory’s cousin and family friends surprising us with a real fireworks display, hearing each other’s vows for the first time at the ceremony, and the perfect weather.

Thank you to all of the people we worked with to make this day so special. Thank you to Heidi for her lovely pictures we will cherish for years, to the Tricky Britches for getting everyone, young and old, out on the dance floor, then letting us play “Call Me Maybe” on repeat and dance to Lady Gaga for hours after their set. Thank you to my dear friend Natalie who came up to Maine a week early and helped me finish all of the many craft projects I took on, and kept me grounded and laughing. Thank you to our parents for their continuing support and love and generosity. Looking back on the day a few months out,  I would not change a thing. If anything went wrong that day, we didn’t notice it. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the small things and worry about the details. When you’re in the thick of it, nothing else matter but your family, friends, and the love of your life. Just a few weeks ago we lost Cory’s great uncle Chip, who did everything from overseeing the flower arrangements to fixing my dad’s handkerchief and tie at the wedding. He was such a commanding presence in Cory’s family, and we’re feel so grateful to have had the time at the wedding with him. It’s a good reminder even after the wedding to thank people and tell them you love them as much as possible.
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Wedding Photography: White Loft Studio | Wedding Venue: The Groom’s Family Property in Edgecomb, Maine | Wedding Coordination, Bridal Bouquet + Bride’s Floral Crown: Beautiful Days | Wedding Design : DIY | Reception Floral Design: Heart Felt Farm, DIY Arranging | Officiant: Friend of the Couple | Wedding Catering: The Good Food Store | Desserts: Treats | Wedding Invitations: Anchor B (finishing touches by Bride) |Invitation Printing: Mercurio Brothers | Rentals + Tenting: One Stoppe Party Shop | Reception Music: The Tricky Britches | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Bride’s Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff | Hair: Bonnie of Bonnie’s A Cut Above | Makeup: Cyndi Clayton of From This Day Forward | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew

I am officially making today “I heart Liz Banfield Day”. How can you not love a photographer who shoots and then promptly sends  such sparkling goodness?  This Seaside affair is infused with the elegance of the East Coast and all begins with an aisle that takes ombre diamonds to a whole other level of insane beauty. The gaggle of precious littles certainly doesn’t hurt either. Florabella Weddings is the mastermind behind the details, Liz is the genius behind the images and Love Story Media is rounding it off with the sweetest of films. All together they make for a dream of a team and you can see all their handiwork unfold right here in the full gallery.

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From Liz Banfield… Scott was introduced to Kristin by mutual friends and was so smitten, he flew her to Paris for one of their very first dates together. This intrepid couple was certain for the moment they were engaged that they would have a destination wedding. After a thoughtful search they settled on the Chebeague Island Inn on the small island of Chebeague, Maine. The venue provided both an intimate setting and stunning sea views. Family and friends traveled from all over the world, their final leg of the journey in water taxis (the only way to reach the island), to celebrate all weekend long with Kristin and Scott. Knowing their guests were making such a big effort, the couple wanted to welcome everyone with an elaborate welcome bag filled with Maine-sourced goodies. Isabella Sikaffy of Florabella weddings designed all the elements to coordinate together, giving the recipient a taste of what was to come. Kristin personally hand-wrote welcome notes for each bag that was delivered to cabins all over the island.

At the beginning of the design process, Isabella met with the couple to establish the colors and visual theme of the wedding. Nostalgic touches of milk glass and pink garden roses were complemented with ikat fabrics in shades of blue. The weekend began on Friday as guests arrived to a picnic lunch on the lawn of the inn. After a brief rehearsal, the entire guest list was transported to a nearby island for a lobster dinner. On the morning of the wedding, friends and family casually gathered on the enormous porch of the Inn. Guests who were staying in nearby cabins, rode over on bikes that were provided by the couple for on-island transportation. Games were supplied for the children to play on the lawn and a relaxed vacation atmosphere presided over the day. The couple shared their first moment down at the edge of the ocean and took time to have pictures taken together at iconic spots around the island. Guests began arriving to the ceremony site and were seated on ikat fabric covered benches. A huppa framed the ocean view and an ombre arrangement of flower petals accented the center aisle.

The bride and groom chose to include all 12 of their nieces and nephews in the wedding party. The boys carried a long floral garland created by Isabella up to the ceremony site. After exchanging vows, the couple enjoyed a cocktail hour during a spectacular sunset hour on the porch overlooking the ocean. Guests found their butler cards on the porch pillars and were ushered into a spectacular tent, with clear walls the allowed the vista to continue enveloping the event. Oversize pendants hung over tables adorned with ikat fabric, floral arrangements in white milk glass, and turquoise milk glass votives. The dining area was separated from the dancing and lounge areas by a central bar. After an evening of dinner and dancing, guests were given little glass lanterns to light their way back to the Inn.

Wedding Photography: Liz Banfield / Wedding Venue: Chebeague Island Inn in Chebeague, Maine / Wedding Design, Planning, Florals, Invitations: Florabella Weddings / Wedding Cinematography: Erik Anderson of Love Story Media / Wedding Cake: Cakes to Remember / Calligraphy: Papineau Calligraphy / Tent, Sofas, Chair Rental: Peterson Party Center / Ikat Fabric: Spoonflower / Wedding Dress: Custom Design by Jin Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Tableware: Be Our Guest, Inc.

The moment we saw the bright pops of pink bursting from every nook and cranny of this gorgeous Maine affair, we had one thing and one thing only in mind… Valentine’s Day.  Then we saw the smiling faces of the adorable bride and groom, the perfectly crafted DIY details and the breathtaking backyard location and we knew it most definitely had Cupid’s stamp of approval.  Which is why we’ll be spending this lovely holiday basking in every last love-filled moment captured by Becca Wood Photography… and soaking in some serious pretty.  Join us in the gallery for more.

From the Bride… We successfully planned our wedding on a $6,000 budget. Luckily our venue was free (my Grandmother’s house in Harpswell, where my parents were married, and where I knew from the time I was a little girl, was my future wedding venue). We wanted to make sure we sourced all our suppliers locally from Harpswell- and if we couldn’t do that, then Maine. Most were recommendations from friends and family. The only supplier we hired from research was our photographer, Becca Wood. We did a lot of research to make sure we found someone who shot the style we wanted to show, and one who had great reviews.

Most of our details were ideas stolen from Pinterest, as I was obsessed with pinning before the wedding. The icicle chandelier made from hoola hoops, the personalised mason jars, the Chinese lanterns, the boat bar, even our invitations which resembled an antique air mail letter. One of my favourite details of the wedding was my entrance to the ceremony on my Papa’s lobster boat with the dock as the aisle, and our exit as a married couple on the little skiff (Grant had never driven the boat before, and had a lesson that morning). We planned the wedding while living in London, and I made a trip to Maine once, 3 months before the wedding to meet the suppliers, and to start working on the DIY details. It would not have been possible without my parents hard work and collection of decorations in the few months before the wedding.

Luckily my experience in the event industry meant I knew how important it was for organisation prior to the wedding day, and my checklists and spreadsheets made everything much easier in the days up to the wedding when we were hosts to our guests who travelled from so far- and many who had never been to the States, and when most of us were running around like mad trying to collect all the mismatched plates & silverware from neighbours and family, and organise all the DIY projects (this is now something I recommend to all the RSA wedding couples before their wedding, spreadsheets and checklists are your friends).

We basically had a 3 day party, as all our ceremony guests arrived 3 days prior to the big day. We had a traditional Maine Lobster Bake the night before, and the pig roast on the wedding day. We had an extra 60 evening guests after the ceremony and dinner, we had fireworks, Croquet, Corn Hole, dancing, and a buffet from the left over dinner.

Wedding Photography: Becca Wood Photography / Wedding Location: Family Residence in Harpswell, Maine / Floral Design: Clee Miller + Whole Foods + Skills Green House / Caterer: Kate Hodkins / Tent + Rentals: Atlantic Tent Company / DJ: Dave Bulger / Invitations: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Mark Lesley “Alana” / Shoes: Madden Girl / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

Good morning lovelies, and Happy Valentine’s day to you! As you are settling at your desk with a piping hot cup of tea, just prepare yourselves for the simple elegance that surrounds this soiree. Lush bouquets by Flora Fauna, an intricate gown with tiny buttons down the back, and a pooch wearing his best bow tie. Maine Season Events transformed a simple barn into such a chic event, you almost don’t know where the line between elegant and rustic begins and ends. So before your day officially begins, visit the gallery to see gorgeous photographs captured by Meredith Perdue that are just filled with love and promise on this most romantic of days. Oh, and a film to top it off by  Zach Boyce.

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From the Bride + Groom… We met at Sunrise Beach in Marshfield, MA. Our two families both share the tradition of summering there since childhood. Although we grew up in cottages on the same small street, it wasn’t until later on in life that we began making small talk with one another on the beach. During our courtship observers watched our beach chair gradually move closer and closer. Ironically, it’s the same scenario that [Jamie’s] parents met as children at the very same beach.

Our first date was at Alicia’s favorite restaurant called Pho Republic in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Unfortunately it’s no longer there, but we enjoyed their infamous tuna sashimi spring rolls and a few drinks. We than enjoyed live jazz at the Beehive. It was the perfect first date, we both were able to share our similar love for food and music.

We decided on Maine as a location for our fall wedding because we both have come to enjoy traveling to the Portland area during the fall season. Our first trip away together was a visit to Alicia’s family home in Oxford, ME, and we spent some time that weekend down in Portland exploring Old Port. We wanted our family and friends to experience a place that we look forward to revisiting every fall. As far as the Barn at Walnut Hill venue, the concept of a barn wedding seemed to provide us with the rustic charm we were looking for. While researching properties, we were lucky enough to uncover the beautiful property by virtue of Maine Seasons Events.

We incorporated a special candle lighting tradition from Alicia’s parish into the ceremony. Alicia’s Youth Minister also traveled from Florida to commence our marriage. The decorations incorporated symbolic anchors to represent hope amongst our family and friends. They were also their to represent Alicia’s sorority, Delta Gamma which her grandmother also was a member. Also we displayed a memory tree to celebrate and remember the close relationships of loved one’s whom have passed. Our advice is to begin conceptualizing early, but be open to changes and suggestions. Food and music selection is extremely important to make a most memorable time for your guests. Sweat the small stuff because those details can make all the difference at the end of the day.

Wedding Photography: Meredith Perdue / Wedding Venue: The Barn on Walnut Hill in North Yarmouth, Maine / Wedding Planning, Design, Props, Furniture + Chandeliers: Maine Seasons Events / Floral Design, Props + Furniture: Flora Fauna / Wedding Cinematography: Zach Boyce / Catering: Trillium Caterers / Wedding Stationery: Parrott Design Studio / Escort cards: Ellen O’Toole Calligraphy (toeo522@yahoo.com) / Lighting: Event Light Pros (john@theeventlightpros.com) / Rentals: One Stop Party Shop / Transportation: BoMar Transportation / Wedding Dress: Victoria Nicole via Country Weddings Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Myla by Bandolino / Bride’s Jewlery: Haute Bride (Earrings) + Lisa Marie ‘s Boutique (Silver Side Comb with Swarovski Crystals) / Matron of Honor’s Attire: Colorblocked Gown Private Collection Dress + BHLDN (Belt) / Bridesmaids Dresses: Adrianna Papell (Gold Printed Asymmetrical Polka Dot Chiffon Dress) + MANGO (Wrap Silk Dress with Embellished Belt) + JS Collection (Sequin Dress) + Adrianna Papell (Grey Sleeveless Lace Sheath Dress) / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Vince Camuto (Renees Nude Patent Leather Heel) / Hair + Makeup: Akari / Groom’s Suit: BLACK by Vera Wang (Two Button Super) / Groomsmen Suits: BLACK by Vera Wang (Two Button Grey)

It’s no secret that we love Maine weddings here at SMP – we kind of like to shout it from the rooftops as loud as we can.  So, when we first laid our eyes on this beautiful Cape Elizabeth affair, we knew we had something very, very special to share.  A day that was not only held at the bride’s family home (and on her parent’s 38th wedding anniversary!), but was crafted with the help of a whole host of fabulous family and friends.  This, SMPers, is why we L.O.V.E. Maine weddings and you can see every last beautiful moment captured by Emilie Inc. Photography in the full gallery.

From the Bride… My parents 38th wedding anniversary was on June 23, 2012. Hoping to follow their lead into a long-lived marriage, we also chose June 23 as our wedding date. When discussing where to have the event, I only had one venue in mind – my parents front yard in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. At first, they were horrified at the idea (so much coordinating! the lawn was a mess! and where would we PUT everyone!?) but my strong persuasion skills (along with some landscaping!) won them over. While we had a tent on the lawn, I really wanted to walk down the road with my dad and have our personal ceremony outside. (I say “personal” because the JOP was my roommate at Williams College and Mike’s coworker before we met; we wrote our own “5 reasons I want to marry you” into our vows, and asked special friends to read meaningful quotes instead of a long reading.)

I put a lot of work into my wedding – making the website, menu cards, and programs (the programs included a crossword puzzle about Mike and me – and our similarities/differences), but recruited plenty of others to help as well! My aunt made some neat “Mr. and Mrs.” hanging signs for our chairs; tables were named after places of importance to us, accompanied with a short description of why. My childhood friend who now owns her own floral shop did the flowers; a coworker made our cake. Even the band was an old friend – the band leader was my middle school band teacher! Those are my dad’s real lobstering buoys hanging on the ceremony chairs; my mom calligraphed all of the invitations and the seating cards; we used my brother’s old boat to store ice and beer. My dad even made the “three essentials” signs (beer, bar, bathroom); my younger brother played his guitar and sang “Here Comes the Sun” as I walked down the aisle; my older brother supplied and lit a crazy fireworks show at the end of the night. Mike and I are both avid skiiers (well, I’m a skiier and he’s a snowboarder) and our save-the-date included us dressed in our winter garb with several snowboards and skiis displaying the details of the wedding date. So at the wedding, we refinished an old snowboard to serve as our guest book. Instead of gifts, we asked for donations for a foundation established for one of my best friend’s brothers who passed away from non-hodgkins B-cell lymphoma and to a local food bank where we volunteer.

While the weather forecast called for sunny skies, the morning of June 23 was dark and stormy. Aggravated, I hopped in the car to our hair appointments, and emerged two hours later to cloudless blue sky. I was thrilled! Unbeknownst to me, there was a huge storm tracking to hit Cape Elizabeth at exactly 4:30 (wedding start time, of course). I noticed the skies getting darker and darker as we prepped. At 4:15, we got our show on the road (the groom had arrived at about 4, owing to some “vow printing problems”…ahem). The ceremony was everything I’d wanted it to be and more – and we didn’t feel a drop of rain! As we started our photos, the sky turned 51 shades of grey and we rushed back to the tent. A night of dancing and laughter followed. Highlights included my MOH singing “If I Ain’t Got You”, my dad forgetting his toast, a fantastic dance off, and a spectacle of fireworks put on by my dad and brothers that blew me away. It was personal, genuine, and fantastic – everything we wanted the day to be.

Wedding Photography: Denise Farwell + Whitney J. Fox from Emilie Inc. Photography / Ceremony Location: Bride’s Childhood Home, Cape Elizabeth, Maine / Floral Design: Fiddleheads Flowers and Vintage Gifts / Wedding Coordination: Brandi Lawrence of Lawrence Event Design / Catering: Kitchen Chicks Catering / Wedding Cake: Bread and Ginger / Band: Tony Boffa Band / Invitations: Chelsey Emery / Wedding Dress: Amsale via Vows / Shoes: Dolce Vita / Hair: Angela from Akari Beauty

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Maine just once in my life and I can honestly say it was one of the best weeks I have ever had.  There’s just something about The Pine Tree State that soothes the soul… and hosting your Big Day amongst its breathtaking landscape?  Beyond brilliant.  Which is why this gorgeous affair has me just a tad bit (read: a lot) obsessed with its perfectly styled details from Maine Seasons Events, its lush (+ beautiful) blooms from Emily Carter Floral Design and a gallery of sweeter than sweet images captured by Sharyn Peavey.  Join me there for your daily dose of pretty.

From the Bride and Groom… We were looking for something non-traditional where we could have outdoor and indoor portions of the reception and not have our guests feel confined to a single space. The Barn on Walnut Hill struck a chord with us because of its quintessential New England style. We could picture the large white tent, cocktails on the lawn and dancing in the barn, and it seemed like it would be the perfect evening. We also enjoyed having use of the farmhouse to accommodate our bridal party.

There were so many amazing parts of the day, and it all seemed to go by very quickly. If forced to choose just one, Katherine’s favorite part was listening to the speeches during dinner. We were so touched by the heartfelt words from our family and friends and will always remember that moment. Ian’s favorite part of the day was being able to celebrate with all of our family and friends, many of whom we don’t get to see regularly.

Our advice would be to try and enjoy the planning process despite the challenges it can present. Certainly, it’s easy in hindsight to say not to worry about every little decision or every change of plans. Try to always keep in mind that your wedding is going to be special no matter what. Try and keep things in perspective, and when faced with some tricky choices, make the decision that feels right to you as a couple.

Wedding Photography: Sharyn Peavey / Wedding Venue: The Barn on Walnut Hill in North Yarmouth, Maine / Event Design, Planning + Rental: Maine Seasons Events / Floral Design: Emily Carter Floral Design / Catering: Trillium Caterers / Reception Music: Retrospecticus Band / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Stationery: Etsy / Rentals + Lighting: One Stop Party Shop / Favors: DIY by Mother of the Groom and Bride / Transportation: BoMar Transportation + Maine Limousine Company / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock /  Bride’s Shoes: Butter / Bride’s Jewelry: Madeleine’s Daughter + Borrowed from the Mother of the Bride / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ shoes: Nina / Groom’s Attire: Peter Renney’s Fashions / Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank / Ties: Brooks Brothers /  Hair + Makeup: Akari

Brimming with coastal charm and laid-back vintage style, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this Maine wedding from Kate Crabtree Photography. Sweet Pea Gardens created sweet, organic florals and mix-matched fabric on the reception tables added a touch of whimsy to the gorgeous John Peters Estate. See the rest right here!

From  the Kate Crabtree Photography… Elizabeth and David’s wedding, which took place at the gorgeous John Peters Estate in Blue Hill, Maine, was the epitome of coastal Maine charm.  The estate was charming and personal, with vintage wallpaper and naturally-lit rooms, and reflected her reception decor, which included a mix of different tablecloth prints which created an airy, whimsical feel.  Guests were treated to oyster shooters and spent cocktail hour lounging in front of the estate and wandering over to the rocky beach, and danced the night away to the Zach Jones Band.

Wedding Photography: Kate Crabtree Photography /Second shooter: Lexi of Walla Photography /  Wedding Venue: John Peters Estate in Blue Hill, Maine / Floral Design: Sweet Pea Gardens / Caterer: Rioux Catering / Music: Zach Jones Band / Invitations + Paper Goods: Letterpress by Boxcar Letterpress, designed by Kathleen Allen / Hair: Samantha Hutchinson of Verde Salon / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Toms /

A weekend-long wedding celebration in Maine basically sounds like perfection if you ask me, and judging from the images snapped up by Anne Schmidt Photography that’s exactly what it was. Day after day of celebrating this adorable couple with family and friends from around the world kicked off with a sail and ending with one beautiful wedding, and you can see every last bit right here.

From the Bride… Gray and I met seven years ago in a coffee shop. He was then a professional athlete recovering from an injury, had stitches in his lip and was doing a crossword puzzle! I was a graduating medical student about to leave the country for a medical mission overseas.We connected immediately in that way you connect with “the one.” Soon after we met, Gray took me to Maine. He had gone to school and played hockey for University of Maine, and he wanted me to see beautiful Acadia National Park. I fell in love with Maine, Acadia … and Gray! When Gray and I got engaged, the thought of wedding planning was overwhelming, and I seriously thought about eloping! But I am very happy to say that my smart, sweet (now) husband put his foot down and insisted that we throw an absolutely incredible, weekend-long party. We decided upon getting married on Mount Desert Island in Maine’s Acadia National Park, where we fell in love.

In order to welcome our guests to Maine, we started the weekend with a charter sail on the Margaret Todd in Frenchman’s Bay. That evening, in honor of the autumn timing, our travels in Europe, and German heritage (and our love of great parties and great beer!), we hosted an Oktoberfest themed-rehearsal dinner. We, and most of our guests, dressed in traditional German gear. We gave our guests personalized beer steins with our own “Coat of Arms” that we designed, featuring an image of our pet Great Dane and our initials and wedding date. Our guests enjoyed embarassing us at a hilarious roast as well as taking pictures in our photo booth, singing karaoke, and playing ping pong. The Asticou and Sweetest Thing Weddings thought of every tiny design detail down to gummi bear snacks on the tables to grilled fresh brautwursts to Bavarian style window boxes full of geraniums decorating the tables.

The day of the wedding, the fog lifted and the sun came our just in time for the wedding ceremony. We exchanged our own vows under an arbor that Gray’s father handmade for us, and my uncle then married us. Our reception was beneath a sail tent with market lights above. Our tent was decorated with a beautiful map and travel theme as an ode to our travels as well as our guests. We had our “His” and “Hers” cupcakes atop vintage luggage with compasses. Behind them were family photos dating back to our great-grandparents! Each table was labeled with antique maps from our travels, and the guests took home luggage tag gifts with the sayings “All Those Who Wander are Not Lost” and “Life is a Journey, Not a Destination.” The guests marked a map with pins with blessings for us as our guest book.  I changed into a tutu, and we danced the night away with our guests to our rocking ’80s band, the “Time Pilots.”

The final morning of our wedding weekend, we took the guests on a “field trip” into Acadia National Park for a hike along the beautiful Maine coastline and through the autumn foliage in the forest. At our farewell lobster bake, I wore a lobster dress specially made for the day. To help keep our guests from getting messy as they enjoyed cracking their lobsters, we dressed them in handmade lobster aprons that we ordered from France as our final gift to them. We all said our final “cheers” on the sunny Asticou porch with bloody marys and mimosas. It was an epic weekend, and we could not have had more fun or have been more thankful to our family and friends who celebrated with us … who now include our amazing team of wedding planners!

Wedding Photography: Anne Schmidt Photography / Ceremony: Thuya Garden in Northeast Harbor, Maine / Reception: Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor, Maine / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Sweetest Thing / Wedding Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress / Band: Time Pilots / Wedding Dress: Justina McCaffrey / Lobster Bake Dress: RetroShreds / Bride’s Shoes: Anthropologie / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Shrugs: Sandi McKeen Couture / Hair + Makeup: The L Factor

Let’s talk about color combos for a moment, shall we?  Color combos that elicit ear to ear grins and cause a virtual happy dance or two.  Color combos like peach, mint green, yellow and the prettiest of blue – like the ones seen in this stunning Peaks Island wedding from the ever-wonderful Emily Delamater Photography.  Together with some drop-dead gorgeous bouquets from Laurie Andrews Design, a sweet summertime vibe and an uber-beautiful bride and groom, it’s making for one breathtaking, pastel-hued gallery.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

From Emily Delamater Photography… Chantal and Matt’s wedding was every bit as gorgeous as I imagined it would be. So bright and summery — the perfect day to look back on and sigh as winter creeps up on us. The peach colored david austin roses, lamb’s ear and mint in her bouquet and florals made for one of the most beautiful color palettes I have ever seen. Matt and Chantal happen to look like J.Crew models, but they also just happen to be one of the sweetest couples, and Chantal’s beaming smile made my job easy and fun as it was obvious she was such a happy bride.

Wedding Photography: Emily Delamater Photography / Wedding Venue: The Inn on Peaks Island in Peaks Island, Maine / Floral Design: Laurie Andrews Design / Officiant: Lauren Snead of Celebrating Love / Wedding Dress: Sottero & Midgley / Hair: Michael Taylor

It is impossible to go wrong with navy and white stripes. Especially when you’re going for something ultra chic and nautical. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, Meg Ryan and The Chick Flick, Michelle Turner Photography and Maine Seasons Events. Like this gorgeous bride and her handsome groom. Made for each other. MFEO. The gallery is filled with so many perfect match ups, you won’t know which ones to give the most love. Click here for that!

And because we couldn’t let you get away without seeing the film from McCormick Media, click here for that!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Sonya and Lucas honestly don’t know when they first met. It may have been in the halls of Plummer-Motz Elementary School that they first laid eyes on each other, or perhaps it was on the playground at recess, or on Nelly’s Bus 13. It’s likely their first interaction was sometime in the mid 1980’s in Falmouth, Maine — but it’s tough to say exactly when that was.

Growing up in the same small town in Maine means Sonya and Lucas had lots of the same experiences. They knew the same places, had the same teachers, and some of the same friends. But this is not a tale of childhood sweethearts… like all good things, this one took some time.

Lucas graduated from Falmouth High School in 1997, attended Brown University and moved to San Francisco. Sonya graduated in 1998, attended The College of William and Mary and then moved to Burlington, Vermont for medical school. It would have been tough for the two of them to get much further apart! Fast-forward 10 years to New York City, 2008: Lucas had recently moved east to follow his passion for music. Sonya had completed medical school and was doing her internship at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

One summer night, a friend of Sonya’s who also happened to be a college friend of Lucas’s invited Sonya to see a concert on 5th avenue. Lucas just so happened to be playing the drums, and Lucas and Sonya reconnected. Time passed, emails were exchanged … then, one cold day in February Lucas was invited to Sonya’s birthday party. He went, they had a great time, and soon after they went on their first date.

Sonya describes their proposal: We got engaged on a beach near our house in Connecticut, called Penfield Beach in Fairfield CT. I should have known because I woke up that morning to Lucas whipping up banana bread french toast (Lucas is not known for his cooking, so to see him in the kitchen was a big surprise!) Then we went for a nice walk and at the end of the point, Lucas proposed!

Sonya and Lucas chose Camden, Maine as their wedding location because a friend of Sonya’s had been to Camden for her honeymoon and texted Sonya 2 days after her own wedding to tell her that she and Lucas had to get married there. (Lucas and Sonya were not engaged yet!) When they did finally get engaged, and their wedding planner, Meagan of Maine Seasons Events, suggested the location as well, they drove up to visit and just fell in love with the spot, it was gorgeous/romantic, and very classic “Maine.” Perfect.

Working with Maine Seasons Events to design a sophisticated nautical Maine wedding, a color palette of navy blue, pink and gold was chosen. Sonya chose blue stripe elements throughout, inspired by her stationery design from Parrott Design Studio, including custom table runners from Maine Seasons Events and her shoes from J.Crew.

The design incorporated nautical elements of gold lanterns, vintage milk glass and mercury glass, bubble gum pink napkins and gold and pink paper lanterns. Romantic flowers designed by Emily Carter Floral Designs consisted of pink flowers and blue berries. Parrott Design Studio created the escort cards, that were pinned with gold pins in a vintage frame by Maine Seasons Events.

Retrospecticus band kept the dance floor full all night, even inviting Lucas up to play drums with them. There were some notable performances from friends of the couple as well, singing with the band at the end of the evening. The beautiful celebration closed with a gold sparkler send off at the harbor’s edge.

Photography: Michelle Turner Photography / Event Design & Planning: Maine Seasons Events / Props & custom linens: Maine Seasons Events / Floral Design: Emily Carter Floral Design / Dress: Vera Wang, Ghillian / Shoes: J.Crew / Navy sash: Britex Fabrics / Veil: Lucy’s Alterations, San Bruno CA / Bride’s Jewlery and flower girl necklaces: custom made by All Things Tinsel / Cinematography: McCormick Media / Invitations: Parrott Design Studio / Cakes and desserts: 3 Dogs Cafe / Reception: Camden Yacht Club / Rings: D. Cole Jewelers / Groom’s Suit: Freemans Sporting Club / Groomsmen Suits: Classic Tuxedo / Bridesmaids Dresses: Ports 1961 via Rent the Runway / Bridesmaids shoes: Nine West / Bridesmaid clutches: ao3designs / Beverage Dinghy: Downeast Nautical Salvage / Band: Retrospecticus / Ceremony music: Stretta Ensembles / Officiant: Jay Erickson, friend of the bride and groom / Tent & rentals: One Stop Party Shoppe / Catering: Trillium Caterers / Ceremony/reception signs: handmade by Erin Gries, friend of bride and groom / Hair: Kim Doll, Camden ME / Makeup: Laurel Wiley / Lighting: John Griffin / Groom’s socks: SockBroker / Ties: Solid Color Neckties / Ring box: Groom’s grandfather’s, pillow handmade by mother of groom / Flower Girl dresses: Olivia Kate Couture / Bridesmaid robes: silkandmore / Wedding Favors: Blueberry Basket at Brock Farm / Tote bags: East Side Screen Printing